AMHERST – The longer the referees took to review Troy Powers' would-be game-tying goal Thursday night, the less likely it seemed that it would stand.

When the officials finally emerged from their off-ice conferral, they came bearing bad news for the University of Massachusetts hockey team. Powers' goal, a nifty score three minutes, 48 seconds into the third period past Boston College goaltender Brian Billett that would have tied the game at 2-2, was waved off after video replay showed Power to be offsides.

The Eagles (7-2-1, 4-0 Hockey East), heavily favored against a reeling UMass team that has now lost three in a row, held on for a tight 2-1 victory.

But the legitimacy of the call to review the Power penalty, which came after a BC timeout, appeared less than clear. According the official NCAA hockey rulebook, the ability to review an offsides call on a scoring play is specified for postseason tournament play only (rule 93.4). The rules stipulating regular season play make no reference to offsides (93.2).

After the game, UMass coach John Micheletto was short on answers about what had transpired.

"Obviously, there was a decision made on the ice," he said. "I have not been able to hear back from the league office or the director of officials, so any questions about that call or its impact on the game, should be directed to them.”

About the potential for an official protest of the outcome, Micheletto said the team "will certainly explore any options."

Power said the ruling was a first for him, calling the decision "obviously frustrating."

"I don't know what the exact rule is. Some guys were saying maybe you can only call that in an NCAA tournament – I don't know if that's right or wrong," he said "So, I don't know what they could do about it now. Just hopefully get it right in the future and it's frustrating for us."

BC coach Jerry York thought the correct course of action was followed.

"I thought they changed that this year, the interpretation of it," York said of the regular season vs. tournament rulings. "But we were asking for (a review). In my mind, they changed that rule (so that) you'd have call a time out to review it; they're not just gonna review it.

"This is my understanding: they initially put it in for tournaments and they said 'Hey, how can you differentiate a tournament and regular season game?'" he said. "My bad if it's wrong."

Of course, there were other factors for the loss. The Minutemen (3-7-1, 1-4-1 HEA) had good scoring looks early they didn't capitalize on. In growing desperation they outshot BC 11-5 in the final period, but couldn't find the back of the net.

Haight, making his first-career start in place of the injured Steve Mastalerz, was throw into the fire against a vaunted Eagles offense that came into the game leading the nation at five goals per game. Unfazed, Haight responded with 31 saves, including several highlight reel stops, and was helped by much-improved defensive play by his teammates in front of him.

Micheletto said the decision to start Haight over fellow freshman Alex Wakaluk, who made the previous two starts in place of Mastalerz, was determined during the week in practice.

"I thought he did a good job coming in off the bench and giving us energy last Saturday in a very difficult situation. He followed it up with three good days of practice," he said. "Obviously, with the short week and Steve not under consideration for the lineup, that was the thought process that went into it.”

Haight, who was "pretty nervous" before puck drop, thought he handled himself pretty well, crediting his teammates for their support.

"It helped having 19 other players out there with me blocking shots, (getting) sticks in lanes. They did everything for me; they battled so hard," Haight said. "Being a freshman starting against Boston College, which I would never think I would do, they definitely helped me out in every possible situation."

Haight showed he came to play early on, turning away several first period shots as the two teams tested one another. UMass forward Branden Gracel broke the scoreless tie with 1:48 left in the period, beating Billett to his left off the rebound of a Steven Guzzo miss.

Haight opened the second period with another strong stretch of play, making three consecutive saves to kill off a BC power play carried over intermission.

But Haight could only hold off the attack for so long. Midway through the period, Eagles forward Johnny Gaudreau, Hockey East's reigning player of the year, slapped a one-timer past Haight's glove side for his 10th goal of the year, knotting the score at 1-1.

BC took the lead just over four minutes later on power-play goal by Kevin Hayes on a rebound off the post.

Gracel's first-period score was his fourth of the season and was assisted by Shane Walsh and Colin Shea. Billett made 28 saves for the Eagles.

UMass travels to Chestnut Hill Friday for the back end of the home-and-home series at 7 p.m.